Cleaning depository



Nov. 6, 1956 HENSLEY, JR 2,769,516

CLEANING DEPOSITORY Filed Jan. 16, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l Robert K.Hensley, Jr.

36 34 v INVENTOR.

I 7 BY Nov. 6, 1956 R. K. HENSLEY, JR

CLEANING DEPOSITORY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1953 r INVENTOR..

Robe/f K. Hensley, Jr.

Fig. 4

Nov. 6, 1956 Filed Jan. 16, 1955 R. K. HENSLEY, JR

CLEANING DEPOSITORY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q 8 h c5 1 g L:

Robert K. Hensley, Jr. v INVENTOR.

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United States Patent() CLEANIN G DEPOSITORY Robert K. Hensley, In,Silver Spring, Md. Application January 16, 1953, Serial No. 331,564

.9 Claims. (Cl. 194-4) This invention relates to a dry cleaningdepository and has for its primary object the provision of a machinecapable of receiving articles ofclotbing and the like to be dry cleanedwhich are deposited by a patron, the machine not requiring the,continuous surveillance .by personnel of the dry cleaning establishmentthus substantially reducing the overhead of the dry cleaningestablishment.

The construction of this invention enables .a patron previously provided"with keys to take soiled clothing to a depository and after insertingone ,of the keys, .a receiving drum can be actuated to discharge thesoiled clothing within the depository. This machinefurther includesmeans for punching a ticket soas ltoretain aportion thereof foridentification purposes while additionally providing a locker key foropening a locker in which the clothing will subsequently be placedafterit has been cleaned.

"One of the particular features of .thisinvention resides in theconstruction of the keyiused for initially permitting the. device toperform its functions. These keys are formed preferably from a moldedplastic material such as cellulose acetate, Plexiglas, or the 'likewhichhas a cam surface and which-also is provided with an insert ofmagnetic'material for engagement with amagnet carried by a key engagingmember movable within an actuation tube and connected tothe rotatingdrum.

.Thismachine enables a cleaning establishment to conduct its business'in a somewhat different manner which will provide a substantial savingin the cost of labor, ,While also providing an. added convenience to thepatron thus stimulating tradewith the particular establishmentemployingthese devices.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the pro visionofacleani'ng depository machine that is strong and durable, simple inconstruction and manufacture, and .capable of being manufactured atarrelatively low cost out of various conventional and readilyavailablemater'ials, While "being very easy to operate and servicefor;proper functioning.

These, together with the various .ancillary objects and features of theinvention which willbecome apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by. this cleaning depository, a preferredembodiment ,of .which .has been illustrated in the accompanying.drawings,.by .wayof example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the cleaningdepository comprising thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectionalview as .taken-alongthe plane of line 22inv Figure illustrating ingreatest detail the construction of theactuation mechanism for-the cleaning depository;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as takenzalong the planeof.line-33 in Figure 5 showing'in detail theconstruction .of themeansfor discharging the-soiled clothing; Figure 4 is a vertical sectionalview'as taken along the planeof line 4-4 in Figure :5

Figure. 5. is:a vertical sectional view'as taken alongthe .planeof-.1ine:5-..-5 in Figure 2;

2 ,769,515 Fatented ,Nov. 5,1955

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view astaken along the plane of line6-6 in Figure 2; V V

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional .detail viewjof the ticket punchcomprising one of the elements of the invention;

Figure 8 is a sectional detail viewof'a'key inengagement with the keyengaging member .prior to being disengaged from the key engaging memberupon actuation of the latter stop cam;

Figure 9 is a sectional detail view of the latch means for preventingrotation of the drum if the accessdoor is open;

Figures 10 and 11 are sectional detailviewsof the key deliveringmechanism and key magazine, the device being shown prior 'to delivery ofa key'in Figure IO'and. being shown after delivery of a key in Figure11;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of one of the locker keys used;

Figure 13 is .a perspective view of one of the actuation keys with partsthereof broken away for greater clarity; and,

Figure 14 is a perspective view of one of the tickets used with themachine comprising the present invention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,reference numeral 10 generallydesignates the casing of this cleaningdepository. The casing 10 is provided with a door 12 through whichaccess maybe had to the soiled clothing which previously had beendeposited within'this machine. The casing 10 is provided with an arcuateportion-within which an access opening is provided, the access openingbeing closedbya door 14 slidably supported by guides 16 and 18 whichdepend from the casing 10. The outer surface of the casing 10 nototherwise employed may be used as a supporting surface for advertisingplacards 20. V

An arcuate slot 22 is formed, in one side wall of the casing 10 and anactuating 'lever24 extends therethr ough. The actuating lever 24 extendsthrough a slot 26 in an arcuate tube 28 which is attached to the casing10 by brackets 30. The lever 24 further extends ,through slot 32 in thetube 28 and an extension34 of the lever24 is secured to the rotatabledrum 36. Securedto the actuating 'lever24 and within the tube '28 is akey engaging member 38 which is formed from any suitable non-magneticmaterial such as Plexiglas, cellulose acetate, or polystyrene.

This key engaging member 38 is provided with magnet v40 which ispartially embedded therein. A slot 42, is,providedin the key engagingmember 38 for a purpose to be henceforth defined. 50

Communicating with the tube, 28 is-a chute 44 which is adapted to permitkeys 46 to be inserted into the tube. The keys 46 are formed with a camsurface 48 at the forwardportions thereof and suitable indicia 50 areprovided on the front portion for indicating the patron using thecleaning depository. The key 46 isformed from asuitable non-magneticmaterial and'has embeddedjtherein'a disk 52 ct -magnetic materialadapted to be attracted by the magnet 40.

There is provided'on the tube28 a bracket 54io which a stop=cam 56is'pivota'lly attached, A spring; 58 is providedfor:continuously-urging-the stop-cam '56 inwardly throughslit 60 in thetube 28, the pring 58 being mounted on the bracket 54. Upon actuation ofthe lever 24 the stop :carn56, will prevent themovement of thekeyengaging 'member'38 past-the stop ;cam-.56 unlessakey 46has beeninserted. The cam surface 48 :of the key -'46,;provides means foraurgingthe-cami56 upwardlythrough theislitr60 to permit the. passageof thekeyengaging;anemher 38. Thestop cam 56 thereforelimitsthe rotationqf-the drum .36 since .the portion. 3 4 ofthefietuation lever isattached to the drum 36. The drum 36 has ahopper portion 62 formed bysheets 64 and 66 which interconnect the disk-shaped sides of the druin36. The drum 36 is mounted on a hollow shaft 7 engaging member 134 isprovided with a slanted cam 36. The cross-rod ,78 extends throughaligned slots 84 in' the'side disks of the drum 36 and is adapted toride the inner surface 86 of cam plate 88 welded or otherwise secured tothe casing -10. A push plate 90 is attached to. the end portions of thepistons 76 which extend through the cylinders 74. Hence, upon rotationof the drum 36 the cross-rod 78 will ride on the inwardly converginghelical cam surface 86 until the plate 90 is pushed outward from thecenter of the drum so as to insure that all clothing will be dischargedfrom the hopper 62. V

, The door 14 is raised by lifting the handle 92 secured thereto. Meansare provided to prevent the drum '36 from being rotated when the door 14is open. This means includes a plurality of teeth 94 which are mountedon the drum 36, which are adapted to be engaged by a detent 96 mountedon an arm 98 which is pivoted on a pin 100 attached to the front Wall ofthe casing 10. An arm 102 is connected to the arm 98 and is adapted tobe engaged by a plunger 104 attached to the door 14. Hence, when thedoor'1-4 is closed the plunger 104 contacts the arm 102 which withdrawsthe detent 96 from engagement'with the teeth 94 and permits the drum 36to rotate. Upon rotation of the drum 36 an elongated carn 106 having aplurality'of notches 103 therein will contact means for discharging onelocker key 110 intothe receptacle 112 mounted on'the front wall of thecasing 10.

This key delivering mechanism includes a magazine 114 for the keys whichmay be opened by means of lock 116. The magazine is provided with anopening 118 at the bottom thereof in alignment with the receptacle 112.A

key delivering plunger 120 is adapted to extend through V the slot 118but is held outwardly from the slot 118 by means of a 'coil spring 122concentric thereabout.

Pivotally attached to the plunger 120 is a connecting rod 123 which isalso pivotally mounted upon a pin 124. An actuating link 126 having aV-shaped projection 128 ispivotally'secured on the pin 124 and held inits lowermost position by support spring 130. When the cam 106 engagesthe cam surface 1320f the actuating link 126 the projection 128 willabut against the connecting lever 123 to rotate the connecting lever1'23 and urge the plunger inwardly of the slot 118 so that it will abutagainst thelowermost key and finally discharge it into the receptacle1'12. Once the cam surface 132 is on top-of the cam 126 the plunger 120will be held in position beneath the keys 110 thus preventing thedischarge of any additional keys. The notches 108 will prevent thebackward rotation of the drum and the subsequent discharge of additionalkeys since the actuating link 126 will be lockingly engaged within oneof the notches 108 when any backward motion is attempted. I

When the drum 36 has been rotated soLthatthe' clothing deposited in thehopper 62 has been. discharged, the:

key engaging member 38 arrives at the position as is shown in Figure 8.At that point a key disengaging 'member 134 enters the slot 42 in thekey' engaging member 38 and upon subsequent reverse rotation of the drum36 the flat surface 136 of the key disengaging member 134 will engagethe key 46 and urge it out of engagement 'Wlth the key engaging member38 so as to deposit the key with the clothing which has fallen into theinterior of the cleaning depository. The key disengaging member 134 iscontinuously pressed inwardly through the slit 138 in the tube 28 bymeans of a spring 140 mounted. on

the bracket 142 to which the key disengaging member 134 15 pivotallyattached. The under surface of the key disclothes into the bottom of thecasing 10.-

surface. a

At the last stages of rotation of the drum in the initial direction, thehandle being moved to the rear, a cam 144 attached to the drum 36engages a ticket puncher plunger 146 which has a knife edge 148 at itsfree end. A pin 150 extends through the plunger 146 and the coil spring152 extends between the'pin 150 and the edge 154 of the ticket punchchute 156. The ticket punch chute 156 has a slot 158 therein forreception of the tickets 160. The tickets 160 as is shown in Figure 14are provided with numerals 162 thereon or otherindicia and a centralportion 164 is likewise provided with similar indicia.. This centralportion 164 is adapted to be punched out of the ticket 160 uponactuation of the plunger 146 by the cam 144 and this portion will bedischarged through the opening 162 and into the conduit 164 at thebottom of which a receptacle or container may be placed. 7

When a patron desires to use the facilities incorporated in thiscleaning depository machine he notifies the estab- .which the patronwill .mark. on one of thej'duplicate halves of the ticket 160. Thisticket will be then secured within the clothing to be cleaned andthedoor 14 will be opened using the handle 92 and the cleaning deposited inthe hopper 62. After the door has been closed, the

i drum will be rotated, the other half of the-ticket having beeninserted in the slot 156. The furtherljrota-tionfof the drum will causethe ticket 160 to be punched. Furthermore, the pistons 76 will have beenactuated. so as to ,drive the push plate 90 outwardly 'thus, forcing theThe cam engaging link 126 will ride on the cam 106 and will engage inone of the notches 108 thus preventing the return o f the drum once thecycle has been started; However,

when the cyclehas been completed the cam engaging link 126 willrideagainst the end of. the cam and will assume the position as is shown inFigure 10. Then, on the return ofthe drum the cam 106 will press againstthe upper portion of the cam engaging link 126 and will, depress suchmember against'the spring .130 thus permitting the return of the drum.Then the patron may depart. A messenger or collecting agent for thecleaning establishment will then collect the soiled clothes using thedoor 12 for access. 7 He will at that timeobtain both the key 46deposited and the soiled clothes together with the half of the ticket160. In addition from within the receptacle at the base of the conduit164 he. may remove the portion of the ticket which has been punchedwhichwill provide a safeguard against any mistake'being committed. Afterthe soiled clothes have' been cleaned they may then be deposited in alocker adjacent the depository which may then be opened bythe patron andthe cleaning which'has been packaged can then beremoved.

patron. This will provide a substantial saving amounting to aconsiderable financial advantage to the cleaning establ shment while'providingian added facility for the patron since the cleaningdepositories can be used twentyfour hours a day. H

Since from'the 'foregoing the construction and advantag'es of this'machine. are readily apparent, further de scription is believed 'to'beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications will readily occur tothose skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoingspecification; and accompanying drawings,

his not intended to limit the invention to the precise embodiment shownand described but all suitable modifications and equivalents nny bereadily resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A cleaning depository comprising an elongated arcuate tube, a keyengaging member movable in said tube, a slot in said tube, and anactuation lever secured to said keyengaging member extending throughsaid slot, said lever being secured to a rotatable receiving drum, saiddrum being rotated upon actuation of said lever, said drum being mountedon a shaft, said shaft being journalled in a casing, said tube beingsecured to said casing, said actuation lever extending through saidcasing, said casing having an access door in alignment with said drum, alatch for preventing rotation of said drum when saiddoor is open, alatch releasing plunger secured to said door, a stop cam for limitingrotation of said drum without a key, said key engaging said stop camupon movement of said actuation lever, said key engaging member movingsaid key in said tube against said stop cam to move the stop cam fromoperative position.

2. A cleaning depository comprising an elongated arcuate tube, 'a keyengaging member movable in said tube, a slot in said tube, anactuation-lever secured to said key engaging member extending throughsaid slot, a cam key receivable in said tube, and a magnet locking said'key to said key engaging member, said lever being secured to arotatable receiving drum, said drum being rotated upon actuation of saidlever, said drum being mounted on 'a shaft,- said shaft being journalledin a casing, said tube being secured to said casing, said actuationlever extending through said casing, said casing having an access doorin alignment with said drum, a latch for preventing rotation of saiddrum when said door is open, a latch releasing plunger secured to saiddoor, a stop cam for limiting rotation of said drum without a key, saidkey engaging said stop cam upon movement of said actuation lever,said'keyengaging member moving said key in said tube against-said stopcam to'move the stop cam from operative position,

3. A cleaning depository comprising an elongated arcuate tube, a keyengaging member movable in said tube, a slot in said tube, an actuationlever secured to said key engaging member extending through said slot, acam key receivable in said tube, and a magnet locking said key to saidkey engaging member, said key including a portion of non-magneticmaterial having a cam surface on the forward portion thereof, said leverbeing secured to a rotatable receiving drum, said drum being rotatedupon actuation of said lever, said drum being mounted on a shaft, saidshaft being journalled in a casing, said tube being secured to saidcasing, said actuation lever extending through said casing, said casinghaving an access door in alignment with said drum, a latch forpreventing rotation of said drum when said door is open, a latchreleasing plunger secured to said door, a stop cam for limiting rotationof said drum without a key, said key engaging said stop cam uponmovement of said actuation lever, said key engaging member moving saidkey in said tube against said stop cam to move the stop cam fromoperative position.

4. A cleaning depository comprising an elongated arcuate tube, a keyengaging member movable in said tube, a slot in said tube, an actuationlever secured to said key engaging member extending through said slot, acam key receivable in said tube, and magnetic means locking said key tosaid key engaging member, said lever being secured to a rotatablereceiving drum, said drum being rotated upon actuation of said lever,said drum be ing mounted on a shaft, said shaft being journalled in acasing, said tube being secured to said casing, said actuation leverextending through said casing, said casing having an access door inalignment with said drum, a latch for preventing rotation of said drumwhen said door is open, a latch releasing plunger secured to said door,a

stop cam for limiting rotation of said drum without a key, said keyengaging said stop cam upon movement of said actuation lever, said stopcam being mounted on said tube, a ticket punch on said casing, a ticketpunch actuation cam on said drum, said ticket punch actuation camengaging said ticket punch upon rotation ofsaid drum, said key engagingmember moving said key in said tube against said stop cam to move thestop cam from operative position.

5. A cleaning depository comprising an elongated arcuate tube, a keyengaging member movable in said tube, a slot in said tube, an actuationlever secured to said key engagingmember extending through said slot, acam key receivabie in said tube, and magnetic means locking said key tosaid key engaging member, said key including a portion of non-magneticmaterial having a cam surface on the forward portion thereof, said leverbeing secured to a rotatable receiving drum, said drum being rotatedupon actuation of said lever, said drum being mounted on a shaft, saidshaft being journalled in'a casing, saidtube being secured to saidcasing, said actuation lever extending throughsaid casing, said casinghaving an access door normally in alignment with said drum, a latch I'brpreventing rotation of said drum when said door is open, a latchreleasing plunger secured to said door, a stop cam for limiting rotationof said drum without a key, said key engagingsaid stop cam upon movement of said actuation lever, said stop cam beingmounted on said tube, aticket punch on said casing, a ticket punch actuation cam on said drum,said ticket punch actuation cam engaging said ticket punch upon rotationof said drum, said key engaging member moving said key in said tubeagainst said stop cam to move the stop earn from operative position.

6. A cleaningdeposit'ory comprising an elongated arcuate tube, akeyengaging member movable in said tube, 'a slot in said tube, and anactuation lever secured to said key engaging member extending throughsaid slot, said 'lev'er being secured to 'a rotatable receiving drum,said drum being rotated'upon actuation of said lever, said 'drum beingmounted'on -a shaft, said shaft being journalled in a casing, said tubebeing secured to said casing, said actuation lever extending throughsaid casing, said drum having a cleaning receiving hopper, a push platein said hopper, at least one cam plate in said casing, a rod engagingsaid cam plate secured to said push plate to urge said push plateoutwardly from the center portion of said drum, and resilient means forreturning said push plate to its initial position, said casing having anaccess door normally in alignment with said hopper in said drum, a latchfor preventing rotation of said drum when said door is open, a latchreleasing plunger secured to said door, a stop cam for limiting rotationof said drum without a key, said key engaging said stop cam uponmovement of said actuation lever, said key engaging member moving saidkey in said tube against said stop cam to move the stop cam fromoperative position.

7. A cleaning depository comprising an elongated arcuate tube, a keyengaging member movable in said tube, a slot in said tube, an actuationlever secured to said key engaging member extending through said slot, acam key receivable in said tube, and magnetic means locking said key tosaid key engaging member, said lever being secured to a rotatablereceiving drum, said drum being rotated upon actuation of said lever,said drum being mounted on a shaft, said shaft being journalled in acasing, said tube being secured to said casing, said actuation leverextending through said casing, said casing having an access doornormally in alignment with said drum, a latch for preventing rotation ofsaid drum when said door is open, a latch releasing plunger secured tosaid door, a stop cam for limiting rotation of said drum without a key,said key engaging said stop cam upon movement of said actuation lever,said stop cam being 7 mounted on said tube, a ticket punch on saidcasing, a ticket punch actuation cam on said drum, said ticket punchactuation cam engaging said ticket punch upon rotation of said drum,said drum having a cleaning receiving hopper, a push plate in saidhopper, at least one cam plate in said casing, a rod engaging said camplate secured to said push plate to urge said push plate outwardly fromthe centerportion of said drum, and resilient key receivable in saidtube, and magnetic means locking said key to said key engaging membersaid lever being secured to a rotatable receiving drum, said drum beingrotated upon actuation of said lever, said drum being mounted on ashaft, said shaft being journalled in a casing, said tube being securedto said casing, said actuation lever extending through said casing, saidcasing having an access door normally in alignment with said drum, alatch for preventing rotation of said drum when said door is open, alatch releasing plunger secured to said door, a stop cam for limitingrotation of said drum with out a key, said key engaging said stop camuponmovement of said actuation lever, said stop cam being mounted onsaid tube, a ticket punch on said casing, a ticket punch actuation camon said drum, said ticket punch actuation cam engaging said ticket punchupon rotation of said drum, said drum having a cleaning receivinghopper, a 7

push plate in said hopper, at least one cam plate in said casing, -a rodengaging said cam plate secured to said push plate to urge said pushplate outwardly'from the center portion of said drum, and resilientmeans for rekey delivering mechanism to deliver a locker key, said keyengaging member moving said key in said tube against turning said pushplate to its initial position, a locker key delivering mechanismassociatedwith said drum and a magazine for locker keys on said casingengaged by said '8 said stop cam to move the stop camfrom operativeposition. 7 V I 9 A cleaning depository comprising a casing, a drumrotatably mounted in said casing, at' least one camplate in said casing,a clothing receiving hopper in said drum, said casing having an accessopening therin nonnally in alignment with said hopper in said drum, apush plate in said hopper, a rod engaging said cam plate secured to saidpush plate to urge said push plate outwardly from the center portion ofsaid drumon'rotation of said drum, and resilient means for returningsaid push plate to its initial position, an elongated arcuate slottedtube secured to said casing, a key engaging member in said tube, an

actuation lever secured to said key engaging member and said drum, saidaccess opening having an access door, a

latch forpreventing rotation of said drum when said door is open, alatch releasing plunger secured to said door, a stop cam for limitingrotation of said drum Without a key, said key engaging said stop camupon movement of said actuation lever, said key engaging member movingsaid key insaid tube against said stop cam to move the stop cam fromoperative position. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS689,106 Mills Dec.- 17, 1901' 912,397 Miller Feb. 16, 1909 1,070,901Lines- Aug. 19, 1913 1,217,649 Snapp ,'Feb. 27, 1917 1,509,249 Miles etal. Sept. 23, 1924 1,688,443 Wessman Oct.'23,-1928 1,853,485 Yeo Apr.12,1932 1,982,274 Vogel' Nov. 27, 1934 2,613,009 Cranorig. n Oct. 7,1952 2,667,394 Goetz et a1. Jan. 26, 1954 2,682,328 Birr June 29, 19542,698,478 'Heisterkamp et al. Jan, 4, 1955 I FOREIGN PATENTS 228,198Great Britain Feb. 4, 1925 7 322,070

Great Britain Nov. 28, 1929 a i

